- Enrollment
- 1,685
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Carlsbad, NM
Sunset Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sunset Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 350030000175
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 88
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunset Elementary earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of New Mexico schools.
- #3 of 5
- elementary schools in Carlsbad · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 20.9:1
- large classes for New Mexico
- 26.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunset Elementary has class sizes larger than 95% of New Mexico schools. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunset Elementary ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Carlsbad, NM.
School address
District: Carlsbad Municipal Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350030000175 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+63 students YoY
Sunset Elementary grew from 356 students in 2022-23 to 419 in 2023-24 (+17.7%).
Teacher FTE added 21.6 → 25.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+63 students YoY 350030000175 · Carlsbad, NM Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
438 enr · 20.9:1 · 26.1% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Carlsbad High (1,685 students)
Sunset Elementary grew from 356 students in 2022-23 to 419 in 2023-24 (+17.7%). Teacher FTE added 21.6 → 25.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
Sunset Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carlsbad High
Carlsbad High
1,685 students
- Carlsbad Inter
Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus
908 students
- Carlsbad Sixth
Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus
740 students
- Cottonwood Ele
Cottonwood Elementary
684 students
- Desert Willow 667
Desert Willow Elementary
667 students
- This school 438
Sunset Elementary
438 students
What this shows Sunset Elementary reports 438 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sunset Elementary compares
Sunset Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Mexico and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Mexico | New Mexico avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.9:1 | ▲ 49% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.1% | ▼ 68% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 438 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.9:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
438
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% below the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.9:1
students per teacher
- 49% above state mean
Top 95% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
5.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,304
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $19,381
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 72.1%
White 24.7%
African American 1.1%
Two or More 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 72.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.9, Sunset Elementary is more mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Carlsbad Municipal Schools reports $13,304 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sunset Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cottonwood Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunset Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 908
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 740
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 684
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 667
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~438 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sunset Elementary
How many students attend Sunset Elementary?
Sunset Elementary has 438 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Carlsbad, NM. CCD year-over-year: 356 (2022-23) → 419 (2023-24), up 63.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary is 20.9:1, which is 49% higher than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 33% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sunset Elementary?
26.1% of students at Sunset Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunset Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sunset Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 72.1% of enrollment, in Carlsbad, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunset Elementary?
Sunset Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sunset Elementary rank among elementary schools in Carlsbad?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunset Elementary ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Carlsbad, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Carlsbad on the city page.
What other schools are in Carlsbad Municipal Schools?
Besides Sunset Elementary, Carlsbad Municipal Schools also operates Carlsbad High (1,685 students), Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus (908 students), and Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus (740 students). See the Carlsbad Municipal Schools district page for the complete list.